Ladki Bahin Yojana Scam: 26.34 Lakh Ineligible Beneficiaries Suspended Over Fraud Suspicions in Maharashtra

In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples across Maharashtra, the state government has suspended 26.34 lakh beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana after detecting widespread fraud. The Women and Child Development Department uncovered that several ineligible individuals—including men—were availing the monthly benefits of this women-centric scheme.

Launched in June 2024, the Ladki Bahin scheme was introduced to provide Rs 1,500 per month to women between 21 and 65 years of age in Maharashtra, aiming to support their financial independence and improve their socio-economic condition. However, just over a year since its rollout, the scheme now finds itself mired in controversy due to massive irregularities in beneficiary verification.
 

What Is the Ladki Bahin Yojana?

The Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a flagship welfare initiative of the Maharashtra government aimed at empowering women economically. Eligible women residing in the state can receive Rs 1,500 every month directly into their bank accounts. It is applicable to married, unmarried, divorced, and widowed women, provided their family’s annual income is under Rs 2.5 lakh. Importantly, the beneficiaries must not be receiving similar benefits from any other state or central scheme.

The program has already rolled out 12 installments to date and boasts a massive base of over 2.25 crore registered beneficiaries.
 

Fraud Uncovered: Men, Duplicate Entries, and Cross-Scheme Exploitation

The Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare addressed the issue publicly via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), revealing that the verification process had flagged a significant number of non-eligible beneficiaries. Alarmingly, the investigation found that multiple members of the same family, and even men, had enrolled in the scheme—a direct violation of its eligibility criteria.

The department collaborated with the Information and Technology Department and cross-referenced applications with data from other government schemes and departments. This multi-agency verification revealed 26.34 lakh accounts that were either fraudulent, duplicate, or receiving benefits from multiple welfare schemes simultaneously.

Tatkare emphasized that such misuse of public funds would not be tolerated, stating, “We are committed to ensuring that public welfare schemes benefit only those who truly deserve them.”

Suspension and Re-verification Underway

Following this revelation, the 26.34 lakh accounts flagged as ineligible have been temporarily suspended. The District Women and Child Welfare Officers have been tasked with investigating each of these accounts individually. If a beneficiary is later found eligible, their suspended account will be reactivated, and they may continue receiving benefits.

At the same time, the state government has affirmed that 2.25 crore genuine beneficiaries have received their June 2025 installment without disruption.

What Happens Next? Recovery and Legal Action Likely

The government is considering options to recover funds from individuals who benefited from the scheme fraudulently. Legal proceedings and penalties could be initiated in cases where it’s proven that beneficiaries knowingly submitted false information to avail financial aid.

Furthermore, this episode has led to a larger conversation about introducing stricter KYC norms and integrating Aadhaar-based biometric verification into all future government welfare schemes to prevent such large-scale misuse.

Can All Women Apply for the Ladki Bahin Yojana?

While the scheme is open to a broad range of women, it comes with strict eligibility criteria:

• Must be a permanent resident of Maharashtra
• Age between 21 and 65 years
• Annual family income under Rs 2.5 lakh
• Must not be availing benefits from other similar schemes
• Bank account in the applicant’s name is mandatory
   

The application process is completely online, and the government continues to urge women to apply through official portals only, ensuring the accuracy of submitted data.

Opposition Demands Full Transparency

As news of the scam spread, opposition parties have called for an independent audit of the Ladki Bahin scheme, questioning how such a large number of ineligible entries went unnoticed for over a year. They have demanded full transparency and accountability from the ruling coalition.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Welfare Schemes

The scam surrounding the Ladki Bahin Yojana serves as a cautionary tale in public welfare administration. While the scheme itself is a vital step toward gender equity and financial support for underprivileged women, its success depends entirely on accurate data management, transparency, and proper checks and balances.

The Maharashtra government’s prompt action in identifying and suspending ineligible accounts is commendable. However, for real reform, the focus must now shift toward building robust digital infrastructure and ensuring strict accountability at all administrative levels.

As the verification continues, many await clarity on how the government plans to safeguard the integrity of welfare schemes while delivering on their promise to empower women in the state.